Friendship Force International

Quarterly newsletter from FF International

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FEATURED JOURNEY OF THE QUARTER: 2019 African Regional Conference – Hosted by FF Cairo, Egypt “It was very interesting to meet members of the Friendship Force clubs in Africa and [see] how enthusiastic they are to establish strong clubs in their countries.”
Discover More
FEATURED CLUB OF THE QUARTER FF Sacramento Blazes Trail for FFI Photography Club Clusters! Read More >
THE LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP Building friendships and understanding without a common language. Read More >

World Conference Delta Discount

Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for Friendship Force World Conference delegates around the globe! LEARN MORE >
FFI Welcomes Several New Staff and Board Members
Meet Them!
New FFI Video Premieres on World Friendship Day
Watch Now
Board of Directors on Upcoming 2020 Journey Fee Increase

World Conference workshops

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World Conference Workshop News As part of our World Conference in Boulder in July, FFI is offering a variety of training workshops led by experienced FFI staff and volunteers from around the world. Attending these workshops is a great way to explore a particular topic in more depth and meet colleagues with similar interests. This year we’ve changed the World Conference format to include even more time for workshops: right after lunch on July 24th and then all day on July 25th.
Workshop topics offered include:
*Workshop list subject to change
  • Planning and Leading an Inspirational Journey
  • Communicating Without a Common Language
  • Characteristics of an Awe-Inspiring Host Program
  • How to Become a “City of Peace”
  • Hosting the Open World Leadership Center Program
  • It’s a Match! How Journeys are
    Requested and Assigned
  • Characteristics of an Effective FFI Ambassador
  • What Can FFI Regional Support Managers and Field Reps Do for My Club?
  • Attributes of a Strong Club
  • Useful (and FREE) Technology
  • A Perennial Approach to Club Development
  • Hey, You Made the News!: Media Relations for Your Club
  • Friendship Force Website Walkthrough
  • Recruitment for Membership and Journeys
  • Planning an Inbound Global Journey
  • FFI Strategic Plan: How Clubs Can Help FFI Grow
  • What is The Friendship Force?
  • Leadership Happens: Training and Succession Planning
  • Our Inner Force of Peace
  • Social Media to Build Community
  • How to Pack Like a Champ
  • Must-Have Apps On The Go
  • Ready, Set, READ! Preparing for Your Travels
  • Best Practices: Club Websites and Data Security
  • Your Membership Toolkit
  • Sharing a Journey Experience: Photography, Stories, Social Media & More!
  • Marketing for Clubs – Websites & Social Media
*Please note that pre-registration is not required; during the event these workshops will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and we advise delegates to take their seats at least 5 minutes prior to the workshop session to avoid disappointment.
For more information or to register:
Visit Conference Website

Invitation to participate with Habitat for Humanity in Romania

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Journey Coordinator Invitation
Habitat for Humanity Global Village – Moinesti, Romania
August 30 to September 11, 2019 (Includes optional three-day add-on)
Greetings! We are Chuck and Betty Oldanie, Journey Coordinators from Florida. Friendship Force Florida Suncoast is offering a unique opportunity for Friendship Force members to engage in global collaboration and goodwill efforts, while traveling to Romania and combining forces with Habitat for Humanity Global Village partners in the local area. Our club is the first Friendship Force club to be involved in this type of global work with Habitat for Humanity International.

Your experience on this Journey will be memorable and rewarding. The Journey will begin and end in Bucharest. You will work alongside Habitat partners, while building lasting relationships and affordable housing for needy families in Romania, one of Europe’s poorest countries.
Your entire Habitat Global Village experience will be coordinated by Habitat representatives who will provide orientation and information during the three-and-a-half days you will spend working on a Habitat Global Village build site. The remainder of your days will be spent sightseeing, participating in various cultural events, and learning more about the people and customs of Romania. Please view the complete itinerary here.
Previous construction experience is not required. Habitat is accustomed to working with volunteers having varied experience levels. It is recommended that volunteers be able to lift 15 pounds and tolerate being on their feet for about two hours. The most important attribute for volunteers is flexibility – of the mind and spirit! If interested in this Journey, don’t delay! The maximum number of slots available is 16 and only seven slots are remaining.
We hope you can join us on this truly unique Journey! In friendship, Chuck & Betty Oldanie boldanie@tampabay.rr.com
Comments from previous Global Village volunteers portray the depth of their experiences: “What an amazing week! Words cannot describe fully how special the experience has been. Romania will forever be in my heart. Every person involved in making this week a success will be fondly remembered.” “This trip really exceeded my expectations. You all made me feel very comfortable and at home in your country. Everything was organized and well done. The people of Romania are so friendly and inviting. I will definitely come back. Thank you for everything and for an invaluable experience.”

View this Journey on the Catalog and Apply Today!
Journey Dates: August 30 to September 11, 2019. The cost of this Journey is $1650 USD and includes: local transportation to and from the airport in Bucharest, Friendship Force fees, a donation to Habitat for Humanity, lodging, all meals, water and snacks while on the build site, cultural and sightseeing activities appropriate to the area; medical insurance (policy available online), a Romania Global Village Volunteer Handbook. Airfare to and from Bucharest is not included. Please Note: An optional 3-day stay in Bucharest is available at the end of this Journey. Members of the Friendship Force club in Bucharest have offered to meet our team for dinner in Bucharest the evening of Sept. 7th, then day-host us for 3 days, Sept. 8, 2019 – Sept. 10, 2019. Food, lodging, and other expenses incurred during these 3 days will be at each traveler’s own expense.